Drop pit apparatus



April 1 J. E. MINTY 2,196,468

DROP PIT APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1935 I '7' Sheets-Sheet 1 Yir'zl/enior; A5 I John EfMz'ni 7%; @401. 7% (LAM I jz arrz eys',

April 9,1940. MlNTY 2,196,468

DROP PI T APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 A3 I A lnvez/or;

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J. E. MINTY DROP PIT APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1935 7 Sheets-Shet s .6PLAN VIEW Invenla John fl or'ngs.

April 9 1940. J MINTY 2,196,468

DROP PIT APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 .April 9,1940;JIMMY 2.196.468

1:110! PIT APPARATUS Filed Nov. '7, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 J PLAN VIEW [Mi-1' -.-.:i n!!! lZuerzz or'; Y cfokzzfifMizy v 7 0,14 aw @aqm April 9,1940. J.'E.M|NTY 4 DROP PIT APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet6 V /6+ I I 152 97222 E/Mwzfy.

April 9, 1940. J. E. MINTY DROPPIT APPARATUS Filed NOV. 7, 1935 '7Sheets-Sheet 7 w" Q19. PLAN VIEW 20 52 172062225027 b/m EMz'nf L GMLZ MQI. r1296.

. Patented 9, 19 I I. e I

UNITED "STATES PATENT] OFF-ICE.

John E. Minty, Muskegon, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, toManning, Maxwell & Moore, Inc., New York. N. Y., a corporation of NewJersey Application November 1935, Serial No. 48,728

30 Claims. (Cl. 104532) e I This invention relates to apparatusof thegen- Fig.- 11 is a View in the plane of dotted line eral type disclosedin the Blake Patent No. ll-ll of Fig. '10.

1,8'i9,972. Such apparatus has heretofore been Fig. 12 is a fragmentallongitudinal sectional I used principally in roundhouses and division*VieWtaken inthe plane of dotted line l2- l2 of point back shops tofacilitate the removal of Fig. 10. 5'. wheels and trucks fromlocomotives, to transport Fig. 13 is a fragmental view showingasub-topthe wheels, etc., from the locomotive to a service as having beentransported andraised into alinetrack, and to return them to thelocomotive. mentwith a service track, and illustrating an-;

The object of the present invention is to extend other form of device topermit a pair of wheels the field of usefulness of such apparatus bymakto be rolled oif the sub-top and onto the service-10 ing itespecially adapted to the overhaul and track.

maintenance of Pullman cars,'passenger coaches Fig. 14 is .a plan viewof the parts shown in 5 and freight cars, and to the removal of a pairof Fig. 13. j I v v i small wheels from a pony truck or a trailer truckFig. 15 is a section on line 15-45 of Fig. 14; 16 of a locomotive. Theineans by which this ob- Fig. 16is a section on line l6--l6 of Fig.13.,15

, ject has been attained will be apparent from the Fig. 17 is aviewsimilar to Fig. 13; but showing following detailed description of.the construction a third form of device to permit a pair of wheels shownin the accompanying drawings, in which to be rolledonto the servicetrack.

Figure l is a transverse sectional view of a drop Fig. '18 is a View online i3l8 ofFig. 1'7. I pit showing one form of table top embodying theFig. 19 is' a. fragmental top plan view intended 2o present inventionassupported in operative relaprimarily to illustrate an alternative meansto tion to a repair track in an engine house, division cause. a tabletop to be raised above the normal point back shop or car shop, and apassenger car level.

being shown as standing upon said track with one Fig. 20 is a section online 2H20 of Fig. 19. 35 truck standing upon the table. Fig. v21 is aView looking in the direction indi-' I Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig.1, but showing cated by the line 2l--2l of,Fig. 19. i e

the elevating and transporting apparatus as hair Fig. 22 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 21, butshowing I ing been positioned beneath the tabletop and one i the parts in a .difierent position. sub-top of the tabletop as having been raised. Figs. 23 and 24 are views-taken in theplaneoiFig. 3 isa view similarto Fig. 2, but-showing lines 2323 and 24-24,respectively,,of,Figs.'22 301 thesaid sub-top as having been loweredinto posiand, 21; 1 I ,y v tion where the pair of-wheels standingthereon The present invention may be used in connecwillclear thetabletop. a tion with various arrangements of pits and Fig. 4 is across-sectional view of the pit taken trackage. In the drawings, I haveindicated a 3 at a service track and showing-the before-menpitA whichmay be constructed-in any desired 35: tioned sub-top as having beenraisedinto'position manner and which intersectsand extends beto permitthe pair of wheels'to be rolled off the Y neath any desired number vofrailroad tracks.

sub-top and onto the service track. a I "Those upon which cars orlocomotives maybe Fig. 5'is afragmental plan view of the pit positionedfor servicing or maintenance may be 0 showing the table top as latchedin position. designated as repair tracks. The repair track Fig. 6 is aview similar to Fig. 5-, all of the subshown in the drawings is marked A'Between tops having been removed for the sake of cleartwo adjacentrepair tracksthe'reis usually a servness' inshowing the remainder of thetabletop; ice track, as, for example, the tra'ckIA shown I Fig. 7 isatransverse sectional view of the table in Figs. 4, 8, 9, 10,- 13, 14 and'17. Each repair to top on the 1ine l of Fig. 5. track A is bridgedacross the pit A by means of Fig. .8 is a view similar to Fig. 4, butshowing a table top which'is latchedin position so that means wherebythe pair of wheels may be rolled it may be released and lowered into thepit with oif the sub-topin either direction. a load standing'thereon andtransported'in the Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing pit(beneath another table top, if necessary) into another sub-top in use. vthe vertical plane of any desired service track, 50

Fig. 9 is a plan view similar to Fig. 5, but. and then raised intoalinement withsuch service showing a table having a single sub-top.track so that the load may be rolled oif thetable Fig. 10 is a plan viewof. the construction shown f top and onto the service track. j The sameor in Figs. 8 and 9. but with the parts in a different another load may.be then placed on the table position. v e top, lowered into the pit,transported in the pit-ss;

i that is not centrally located upon the table top,

but is preferably of the type fully disclosed in the before-mentionedBlake patent, to which reference is made for an understanding ofmechanisms not herein disclosed in detail.

Briefly described, the raising, lowering and transporting apparatusindicated in the present drawings comprises a trolley B arranged totravel upon rails A running lengthwise of the pit- Rig-. idly secured tothe trolley B are four. rigid columns B upper ends of the columns B bymeans of cables which are connected to winding drums mounted on thelower side of the carriage B said winding drums being arranged to berotated to unwind or wind up the cables by means of an electric motor BThe columnsB are of such height as to. pass under any table tops whichmay be latched in position to bridge the pit.

Referring now to the form of tabletop shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3,5, 6, '7and 9 It comprises a rigid rectangulariramework I arranged to besupported by any suitablemeans in position to bridge the gap in a repairtrack or a service track. .The supporting means herein shown comprisesfour latches 2 slidably mounted in the frame 4 at the corners thereofand adapted to rest upon supporting ledges A such ledges being providedat all of the tracks A and A The latches 2 may be connected together forsimultaneous movement into and out of effective position by anydesired'means, as, for example, that fully disclosed in the Blakepatent. such means compris- 1 ing a hand lever 3 (Figs. 5 and 6);

The form of table top shown in the Blake pat ent (illustratedparticularly in Figs. '5 and '7 thereof) is of unitary construction. Theform of table top shown in Figsl, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 of the presentdrawings may be raised, lowered Pullman car-or freight car is carried bythe main body of the table top latched in position to bridge the pit. InFigs. 1 2, 3, 5, 6 and 'Lthe table top is shown as comprising threesections or sub-tops 4, 5 and 6. The sub-tops may be of different sizes,As will be understood fromgFig. 6, the frame I comprises two cross-beams5 which define openings 7, 8 and 9 in which the sub-tops 4,

5 and 5, respectively, are detachably supported. The table shown in Fig.9 comprises a frame I which is similar in all respects to ,the frame Iexcept that it is provided with a single opening 8 for receiving asub-mp5 identical with the sub-top 5..

Each sub-top comprises a rigid frame which may be generally rectangularin form and braced in any desired manner. Since the sub-tops l. 5, 5 andG are essentially similar, it will be sufficient to refer to Figs. 5 and'7, wherein the ner imetral 'frame of the sub-top 5 is shown at in, saidframe being adapted to fit into the opening 8. Rigidly secured withinthe frame iii are two A carriage B is suspended from the cal slidingmovement.

I-beams H in the vertical plane of the track rails. On these beams aremounted rail sections I I2 adapted to aline with. the rails forming thetracks A and A Each of the sub-tops 4, 5, 5 and 6 carries rail sectionssuch as the sections l2, those for sub-top 5 being numbered l2 those forthe sub-top 4 being numbered l3 and those for the sub-top B being markedM. To bridge the gaps between ,the rail sections, l2, l3

and l4,the main frame i of the table top carries rail sections I5.

The sub-top 5 has a recess it at one side to accommodate the hand lever3. The subtops 4 and 6 have recesses i! to afford clearance for thecolumns Bl. when one of said sub-tops is lowered.

The sub-tops 4, 5, 5 and 6 may be detachably connected to the main frameof the. table top by any preferred means, as, for example, slidablelatches I8 (Figs. 2 and 4) adapted, projected, to rest upon ledges l9.(Fig. 2). provided upon the end beams and cross" beams of the mainframe and arranged to be projected. and retracted in unison by meanssimilar to that provided for table top in which the mainframe 2t! has nocross beams between the sub-tops 20 The subtops 20 have latches 20 thatrest upon the side beams of the main frame 20*. The latter is equippedwith latches re like the latches 2.

When a sub-top is to be lowered fromits position in the main frame I, itis desirable first to raise the sub-top slightly to relieve the pressureupon the latches 18 so that said latches may be easily retracted intothe position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, It may also be desired to raise thesub-top to a slight extent above the general level of the table top tofacilitate the release of the pair of wheels from the car or locomotive.I have herein shown two different provisions for enabling a sub-top tobe raised above the general level of the table top. Referring first toFigs. 2, 3 and 4: When a sub-top is to be lowered into the pit two barsmay be placed upon the carriage 13 directly below said sub'top beforethe carriage i3 is raised to receive the sub-top. It will be apparentfrom Fig. 2 that when the carriage B is raised, the bars 2! will comeinto contact with the bottom of the sub-top and jack it up above thegeneral level of the table top, therising movement of the carriage Bbeing suspended when the sub-top has been lifted to the desired extent.After the latches l8 have been retracted and any necessary work done torelease the wheelassembly from the car or locomotive, chock. blocks 22may be placed in position'to prevent the wheel assembly from rolling onthe sub-top, after which the carriage B may be, lowered, as shown inFig. 3, until the wheel assembly is below the main frame I. i

In Figs. 19 to 24:, I have shown an alternative means to enable asub-top to be raised above the general level of the table top. As shownin the last-mentioned views, each subetop is provided with four jackposts 23 spaced apart so as to be adapted to support the sub-top and itsload in stableequilibrium upon the carriage B jack posts are mounted onthe sub-top for verti- As best shown in Fig. 20, the sub-top has anopening 24 through which the jack post may slide, and a guide opening 25in which a guide portion 26 of the jack post is slidable. A hand hole 27orequivalent means is pro These 2.19 m I I I, v v

other and lie in overlapped relation in: a recess- 52" ":vided tofacilitateraising theja'ok post into t e retracted position shown inFig. 21. "Tohold the jack in its retracted position or in the elfectiveposition shown in Fig. 22, I provide a-block 28" having ears 29'whichare pivoted? and Vertically slidable on a pivot bolt 30 on the sub-top.The 7 block 28 is adapted to lie between the head of the jack post 23and an abutment .3! on the sub-top; as shown in Figs. 20 and 22, or itmay be positioned below the head of the jack post to support the jackpost in elevated position, as shown in Fig. 21. When in position tosupport .the jack post as in Fig. 21, the lowermost earv 29 on'the blockZB-restsupoii the upper end of a sleeve 32. To look the block 28 ineither of the positions shown in Figs. 21 and 22, I provide a pin 33adapted to be passed throughzalinedj openings 34 in'the sub-top andthrough a perforated car 35 on .the

' block 28. If desired; the pin 33 maybe connected so: .pointer 3'!fixed to the block 28 projects aboveto the sub-top by means ofa chain36. A signal thetop of the sub-top when the block 28 isin position toact as an abutment for the jack post 23. I

When a sub-top has beenlowered with a load and transported away-from thecar or locomotive,

I the load maybe liftedout of the pit by means of an overhead crane, orthe sub-topmay be raised into the horizontal plane of a service track-Aas shown in Fig. 4, so that the load may be rolled ,ofl

the sub-top onto the service track. It may be .desirable in someinstances to roll the load onto the service track in one direction andin other instances in the opposite direction. .To bridge "the gapbetweenthe particular sub-top which is in use and the portion of thetrack A toward which the load is to be rolled, I may provide the hingedrail supports shown in Figs. 4; 8, 9, 10', 11

' and 12, or detachable rail supports, two forms of which are shown inFigs- 13 to 18, inclusive.

Referring first to the hinged form'of rail support: As will beunderstood from Figs. 8, 9, 10

and 11, the-carriage B is equipped with two sets of hinged railvsupportsor gate rails of such as provided with coasting surfaces 4'! and 48lengths and so related to the sub-tops as to be adapted to bridge thespace atboth sides of any one of the sub-tops, These gate rails arenumbored 38, 39, 40,- 42, 4'3 and 44. As indicated in Figs. 10 and 11,there are two rows ofv such gate rails, the gate rails of each rowbeing'piv oted to swing upon a common axis. In Fig. 11 the axis for theright-hand row: of gate rails is designated 45, and the axis ofthe otherrow of gate rails is numbered 46. i

When arranged in verticalposition (as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 11) theupper edges'of the gate rails constitute rails upon which the load maybe rolled across the carriage B and ontothe service track A Any desiredmeans may be provided to holdthe gate rails in verticalposition- In Fig.11' I have shown the gate rails and the carriage'B which are in contactwhen the gate rail is in operative position. The gate rail is held insuch position bymeans of a diagonal brace which may partake of variousforms; herein I have shown for each gate railone or more braces, thosefor the right-hand rowof gate rails, as viewed in Fig; 11, beingnumbered 49, and those for the Y left-hand row being numbered 49 Thebraces 49 of the carriage are pivoted at 50 and the braces 89 at 50*. tothe gate rails by means of withdrawable pins or the like 5!. Whendetachedfrom .theirbrac'es, the gate "rails are adapted to fold towardeach The braces aredetachably connected cross-over unit comprises arail-section 53 secured at one end to a bracket 54 'otany desired formadapte'd'to stand upon'the carriage 13 To one' end of the rail section53. are secured locating pins 5 EE adap'ted to lie at opposite sides ofthe'jweb of the rail section on the suh-topto hold the rail:

section 5.3 in line withthe rail section on the subtop. At oppositesides of the'ends of each rail forminga track A are ribs 56 betweenwhich the rail 53 is adapted to lie and thus beheld in alin'ee ment witha rail of the traclrA It willbe seen that the cross-over unityjust'described may be placed in-fposition as indicated in full and dottedlines in Fig. 13. and lifted ut (if-place and set i I aside after it hasservediitstpurpose.

Figs; 17 and l8illustrateanother form of detachable cross-over unitwhich also would be pro vided in various lengths to bridge the gaphetween anysub-top andthe desired end of aserv-. ice track. 51 is ademountable rail unit having feet adapted to' rest upon the top ofthecarriageB andhaving studs 59 adapted to fit into openingsv 6!! insaid carriage to support the rail sectionv 551 in upright position inalinement with a service track rail...

Summarizing the operation and assuming vthat a Pullman car 5; has beenplaced upon a repair track A} with one of its sin-wheel trucks spottedon the table top (as shown in Fig. 1) and that the right hand pairo-flgwheels is to beremoved:

The elevating and transporting apparatus-is rnovedon the rails A intoposition below the? table top. .While it is seldom necessary .to lift apair of Pullman wheels before releasing them from the truck, We shallassume," in order to show the capabilities of the apparatus, that itdesirabl-e in this instance to do so. A pair of ele-x I vatin {bars 25is placed upon" the carriage B A directiy below the sub-top 6 upon whichthe righth'and pan-cf wheels is standing. The carriage B is then raised.to bringthe bars 25 into'cont'act with the "bottom of the sub-top 6,

the carriage B being raised until the pair 01;

wheels has been Iiftedjtothe desired extent. The

wheelshaving beenreleased fromthetruck and blockednn the railv sectionsM and the jlatch' s it having been retracted (as shown in Fig. 2;, thecarriage E is lowered with the-sub-top 6 and its loadzstanding. thereon(as shown in Fig. 3)

until the'load is belowthe frame l of the-table top. The elevating andtransporting apparatus is then moved upon the rails A until the railthen elevated to place the horizontai alinen'ient with said servicetrack- (as shown in'lFig. t). If the pair of wheels is to be rolledoff'to iii-wright (as viewed in Fig. 4) the,

two gate rail-Seton the. carriage B are swung up into vertical positionand secured in such position bymeansofthe braces 59' and it"; aftersections Mare in the 'verticalplanes of the rails forming a servicetrack; A The carriage B is' rail sections [4 in- Iii which the blocks 22are removed and'the wheels rolled onto the service track A If the pairof wheels was to be rolled off to the left, or if a new pair of wheelsis to be rolled onto the sub-topfrom the left, the gate rails 38, 39, 154| and 42 would be placed in operative position, as shown inFig. 8. s

As will be understood from Fig. 9, any of the pairs of wheels may beremoved and placed upon a service track, as explainedin connection withthe right-hand pair of wheels.

If desired, the entire truck may be removed as a unit, jacks Y beingfirst placed under the end of the car body. Thetable top is raisedsufficiently so that the latches 2 are out of contact i the pit.

A table top containing one or moresub-tops allows the removal of a pairof small wheels from a pilot truck or a trailer truckof a locomotive,

while the weight of thelocomotive is transmitted through the truck tothe main frame of the table top latched in its position as a bridgeacross thepit. When a pair of drive wheels is to be removed, the tabletop, with its sub-tops'locked into it, is used as a unit,fthe weight ofthe locomotive being carried by the remaining locomotive wheels atopposite sides of the pit.

As hereinbefore stated, the table top may be equipped with variousnumbers of sub-tops, de-

ending upon the size and class of locomotives and cars to be serviced.When the. table top is hereinbefore explained. In this instance, the

' end sections of the main table top are constructed table tops.

integrally with the frame instead of being re movably secured thereto asin the case of the three-section table top. While the use of a singlesub-top requires that the engine or car be spotted for each pair ofwheels removed, it nevertheless afiords more expeditious anda moreflexible range of operation than with' one-piece A table top having onenarrow sub-top and one wide sub-top is well adapted to use inrepair' Atable top equipped with three sub-tops is.

particularly suited for handling individual pairs of wheels of passengerand freight cars and locomotive. tenders, being also adapted for use inremoving an entire truck. In the case of six-wheel trucks, a truck isspotted so that the center pair of wheels is over the center sub-top,after which any of the three pairs otwheels maybe removed car or tender.i

It will be understood that the invention is not,

limited to the details herein disclosed, except to the extent indicatedin the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a drop pit, a table top comprising a main frame, a plurality ofsubtops detachably secured in said main frame, and rail sectionsextending across the main frame and the subtops to form a substantiallycontinuous railroad track upon the table top.

2. In a drop pit, a table top comprising a main portion and a subtopdetachably secured in said main'portion, and rail sections extendingacross the main portion and the subtop to form a substantiallycontinuous railroad track upon the table top.

3. In a drop pit having side walls with supporting ledges thereon, atable top comprising a main frame, latches on the main frame adapted torest upon said ledges, and a subtop fitting within the main irameandhaving latchesadapted to rest upon the main frame.

4. A detachable cross-over unit for use in a drop pit, consisting of arailsection, a supporting bracket underone end thereof, and aliningmeans mounted directly upon that end of the railsection tocoact with thevertical web of another rail section, the opposite end of the first railsection being adapted and arranged to rest directly and removably uponthewall of the pit.

5. In drop pit apparatus, a raising and lowering carriage havingopenings in its upper surface, and a cross-over unit adapted to stand onthe carriage and having on its lower portion 10- eating studs to fit insaid openingsand having on its upperportion means constituting .railsections. I v

6. In. drop pit apparatus, 'a railroad track, a drop pit intersectingthe track, a raising and lowering apparatus in the pit comprising acarriage adapted to support a table-top section having rail sections,saidrail sections being adapted to aline with the railroad track, andmeans adapted tobe removably positioned on the carriage while thelatteris supporting the table-top section with its rail sections inalinement with the railroad track, said means constituting rails fillinga gap between one end of the railroad track and the adjacent end ofsaidrail sections.

7. In drop .pit apparatus, a railroad track, a drop pit intersecting.the track, a raising and lowering apparatus in the pit adapted tosupport a table-top section havingrail sections, said rail sectionsbeing adapted to aline with the railroad track, andmeans adapted to bepositioned on the raising and lowering apparatus alongside the table-topsection to constitute rails alined with and filling a gap between oneend of the railroad track and the adjacent end of said rail sections.

8. In drop pit apparatus, a railroad track, a drop pit intersecting thetrack, a raising and lowering apparatus in the pit comprising a carriage adapted .to support a table-top section having rail sections,said. rail sections being adapted to aline with the railroadtrack, and

means adapted to be positioned on the carriage to constitute railsfilling a gap between one end 'of the railroad track and the adjacentvend of said rail sections.

. 9. In drop pit apparatus, a raising and loweradapted tobe swung upinto parallel vertical po- 1 sition to form railroad rails, and adaptedto be swung down into a position below'the topof the carriage, and meansto hold said members in vertical position. j

10.1In drop pit apparatus, a raising and lowering apparatus comprising acarriage, members hinged tosaid carriage on parallel axes. and adaptedto be swung up into parallel vertical position to form railroad rails,and adapted to be swung down, into overlapping position, into a recessin the top of the carriage, and means to hold said members in verticalposition.

11. In drop pit apparatus, a raising and'l'owering apparatus comprisinga carriage members hinged to said carriage on parallel axes and adaptedto be swung upinto parallel vertical position to form railroad rails-andadapted to be.

swung down, into overlapping position, into a recess in the top of thecarriage, and braces to hold said members in vertical position, saidbraces being adapted to be placed in a position below the top of thecarriage when said members are in said recess;

12. A table top to bridge a droppitysaid table in the other of which thepost is elevated into a retracted ineffective position. v i I 14. Indrop pit apparatusgaraising and lowering apparatus comprising acarriagezadapted to support a subtop having rail sections,- and means onthe carriage to form prolongationsof the rail sections on the subtop. lI

15. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table for bridgingapit, of an outer section having rigidly connected end portions andadapted to carry a plurality of pairs of wheels, an inner sectiondisposed in the outer section and adapted to drop a single pair ofwheels, 1

means for latching the outer section across the pit, and means forreleasably supporting the inner section from the outer section .-so thatit may be dropped independently of the outer-section and while the outersection remains in pitbridging, position to support contiguous pairs ofwheels.

16. In drop'pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table for bridginga pit, of an outer section having rigidly connected end portions andadapted to carry a plurality of pairs-of wheels,

an inner section disposed in the outer section and adapted to drop asingle pair of wheels, means for latching the outer sectionacrossthepit, andimeans for releasably supporting thelin ner section from theouter gsection so that itmay be dropped independently of the outersection and while the outersection remains in pitbridging position tosupport contiguous pairs of wheels, both sections being adapted, whenlatched together, to drop all of the wheels on a truck I into the pit.

17. In drop pit apparatus, the combinationin a drop table for bridging apit, of an outer section having end portions adapted to carry'aplurality pair of wheels, means for latching the outer :sec-

tion across the pit, and. meansxfor releasably supporting the innersection froin'the outer sec tioniso that it may be'droppedrindependentlyof the outer section and while the outer section remains in pit-bridgingposition tosupport con- 'tiguouspairsoi wheels.

l 18. In drop pit apparatus for removing sets of wheels from railroadlocomotives and the :like,

the combination in a, drop table'for bridging a pit, of an outersectioncomprising two end portions rigidly connected together andadapted to carry a plurality ofxpairs of wheels, an inner sectiondisposed in the outer section and adapted to drop a single pairofwheels, means for latching the outer section across the pit, and meansfor releasably supporting the inner section from the outer section sothat it may be dropped independently ofthe outer section and while theouter section remains in pit-bridging position .to support contiguouspairs of wheels, both sections being adapted, when latched together, todrop .all of the wheels on a, truck intothe pit.

19. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table for bridginga pit, .of an outer table section, an -inner section adapted to bedropped independently of the outer section, means-for releasablysupporting the outertable section at both of its ends from the walls ofthe pit, means for releasably supporting the inner section from theouter section, and spacing means adapted to be' interposed under theinner section, and whereby the inner'section maybe lifted above tracklevel while the outer section remains supported by the pit walls. I

I 20. In drop pit apparatus for removing sets of wheels from railwaylocomotives or the like, the combination in a drop table adaptedtobridge a pit, of a plurality of sections, one of said sections beingdisposed within, and adapted to be dropped with or independently of theother section, means 'for releasably supporting both ends of the outersection from the walls of the pit, means for releasably supporting theinner section from the outer section, a lifting carriage adapted tocooperate with jsaid'sections, and a plurality of spacing membersmounted on said inner section for movement into-active or inactivepositions, said members when in active position being engageable by saidcarriage whereby to lift the inner section abovethelevel of the outersection, said carriage engaging both sections simultaneously when saidmembers are in inactive position.

211L111 a drop pit apparatus for removing and replacingthe wheels of,railroad locomotives and;

thelike, in combination, a railroad track, a drop pit intersecting thetrack, a unitary drop table for bridging said pit comprising an outersection extending across thepit and having rails mounted thereon foralinement with said track, an inner section disposed within said outersection of said pairs of wheelsbeing carried by the rails of said innersection, means releasably supporting the outer section from the sides ofthe pit so that the table may be lowered as a unit to drop saidplurality of pairs of wheels, and means for releasably supporting saidinner section from said outer section so that it may be loweredindependently of the'outer section to drop said one having rails mountedthereon for .alinement with the rails of said outer section, the severalrails pair of wheels while the outer section remains in pit-bridgingposition to support the other pairs of wheels.

22. In a drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table forbridging a pit, of an outer section having rigidly connected endportions adapted to carry a pair of wheels, an inner section centrallydisposed in the outer section, and adapted to support a pair of wheels,means for latching the outer section across the pit, and means forreleasably supporting the inner section from the outer section so thatit may be dropped independently .oi the outer section.

23. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table for bridginga pit, of an outer section having rigidly connected end portions adaptedto carry wheels, an inner section centrally disposed in the outersection, and adapted to support a pair of wheels, means for latching theouter section across the pit, and means for releasably supporting theinner section from the outer section so that it may be droppedindependently of the outer section, both sections having meanssimultaneously engageable' by lifting mechanism so the sections may belowered together to drop a truck.

24.,In drop pit apparatus, the combination in adrop table for bridging apit, of an outer section having rigidly connected end portions adaptedto carry wheels and a substantially rectangular opening, an innersection centrally disposed in the outer section, fittingv in saidopening, and adapted to support a pair of wheels, means for latching theouter section across the pit, and means for releasablysupporting theinner section from the end portions of the outer section, so that it maybe dropped independently of the outer section. i i

25. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table for bridginga pit, of an outer section comprising end portions; rail-sectionsadapted to carry a pair of wheels and side-beams rigidly connecting saidend portions, an inner sec tion centrally disposed in the outer section,and provided with rail sections to carry a pair of wheels, means forlatching the outer section across the pit, and means between thecontiguous end portions of the sections for releasably supporting theinner section from the outer section so that the inner section may bedropped independently of the outer section.

26. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table adapted tobridge a pit, of an outer section comprising side-beams adapted toextend across thepitand a plurality of cross-beams at each of its endsproviding end portions adapted to carry wheels, a substantiallyrectangularcentral opening being provided in the outer section,

.an inner section centrally disposed in the outer section, fittingsubstantially in said opening and adapted to support a pair of wheels,means for latching the ends of the outer section to the pit, and meansbetween the end portions of the outer section andthe inner section for,releasably supporting the inner section so that it may be droppedindependently of the outer section.

27. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table adapted tobridge a pit, of an outer section comprising side-beams adapted toextend across the pit and a plurality of cross-beams at each of its endsproviding end portions adapted to carry wheels, a substantiallyrectangular central opening being provided in the outer section, aninnersection centrally disposed in the outer section comprisingcross-beams, fitting substantially in said opening in the outer section,and adapted to support a pair of wheels, means for latching the ends ofthe outer'section to the pit, and means between the end portions of theouter section and the inner section for releasably supporting the innersection so that it may be dropped independently of the outer section,the cross-beams of both sections being simultaneously engageable'by alifting carriage, to drop both sections together.

28. In drop pit apparatus, the combination in a drop table for bridginga pit, of a plurality of sections, one of the sections being adapted tobe dropped independently of the other, means for releasably supportingone of the table sections from the Walls of the pit, means forreleasably supporting the other section from the first mentionedsection, and spacing means adapted to be interposed between one of thesections and lifting mechanism, whereby the said latter section may belifted above track'level while the other remains supported by the pitwalls.

29. In a drop pit apparatus, a drop table assembly comprising, incombination, a main section adapted to bridge a pit, a plurality ofauxiliary sections assembled with said main section, latch meanssupporting the main section on the sides of the pit, means forwithdrawing said latch means to release the table assembly for loweringinto the pit as a unit, other latch means supporting said auxiliarysections on said main section, and means for withdrawing said otherlatch means to release each auxiliary section for lowering into the pitwhile the main sectiin remains in pit bridging position.

30. A'drop table assembly for bridging the pit intersecting a railroadtraclnsaid table assembly comprising, in combination, a main sectionextending across the pit and having rails mounted thereon for alinemen'twith the track, a plurality of auxiliary sections assembled with saidmain section, each of said auxiliary sections having rails'mountedthereon for alinement with the rails of the main section, the rails ofthe several sections constituting an extension of the track across thepit, means releasably supporting the main section on the sides of thepit so that the entire table assembly may be lowered into the pit as aunit, and means releasably supporting said auxiliary sections on saidmain section so that the auxiliary sections may be lowered into the pitindependently of the main section while the latter remainsin pitbridging position.

7 JOHN E. MINTY.

